School Choice: A Comparative Analysis of Student Achievement in New York City Public Elementary Schools

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Eleven
  In Roundtable Session: Academic Experiences and Achievement in School Choice and Policy Reform Contexts (Table 1)

Abstract

Using proprietary data from NYC’s Department of Education (DOE), we follow the 2012 kindergarten cohort until they are in 5th grade and find that a large percentage has used available school choice options, including charter schools (12%) and out-of-zone public schools (23%). We also find that robust positive achievement gains are associated with charter schools compared to zoned schools, while there is little difference in achievement gains between out-of-zone schools and zoned schools. We also show that students living in some of the most racially segregated neighborhoods in NYC are more likely to use school choice than those living in other areas, and that charter schools in those areas provide them with more robust academic achievement gains than zoned schools.

Authors

• Ying Lu, New York University
  Presenting Author

• Sharon L. Weinberg, New York University
  Presenting Author

• Meryle Weinstein, New York University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Dorothy Seaman
  Non-Presenting Author